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| TPWD News Releases Dated 2009-07-10 |
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[ Note: This item is more than eight years old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references. ]
[ Media Contact: TPWD News, news@tpwd.texas.gov, 512-389-8030 ] [AR]
July 10, 2009
NOAA Grant to Restore Galveston Bay Marsh a 'Happy Surprise' for State
AUSTIN, Texas -- When the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration publicly announced the last week of June that it was providing $5,148,369 to help restore critical wetlands in West Galveston Bay, the news took Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staffers who wrote the grant request by surprise.
"It's a very happy surprise that we got this money. The project will return long-term benefits both to Galveston Bay and to the people of Galveston Island," said Mike Ray, interim Coastal Fisheries Division director for TPWD.
The project, officially called "Recovery Act: Restoring Estuarine Habitats in West Galveston Bay," is one of 50 nationwide funded through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009. NOAA received more than 800 proposals, with the Texas project among the 10 largest.
With another $647,597 from the Texas General Land Office, a $250,000 in-kind donation from NRG Texas Power LLC and $10,000 in staff time from TPWD, the more than $6 million project will restore 328 acres of intertidal marsh complex at two locations: Galveston Island State Park and Jumbile Cove.
"Coastal wetlands perform both chemical and physical functions, including temporarily retaining pollutants such as excess nutrients, toxic chemicals and disease-causing microorganisms," said Cherie O'Brien, TPWD coastal ecologist and project leader. "They also provide critical habitat for juvenile finfish and shellfish and reduce damage from storms by acting as a buffer between shoreline and inland areas."
The Galveston Island State Park shoreline component will reduce erosion at the state park, which is visited by approximately 500,000 people a year. It also will protect infrastructure within the City of Jamaica Beach by protecting its eastern shoreline from erosion.
The Jumbile Cove component of the project will protect private property directly behind it from erosion. O'Brien said property owners in the area have been supportive of previous restoration projects.
The concept for the project was developed in coordination with the Natural Resource Uses Subcommittee of the Galveston Bay Council.
"This is really a team effort between the state and federal governments, private partners such as NRG Texas Power and the Galveston Bay Council, which is charged with implementing the living resources elements of The Galveston Bay Plan," said O'Brien.
The project will employ approximately 50 people at the Galveston Island State Park site and 52 people at the Jumbile Cove site. It is scheduled to be complete in October 2010.
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[ Note: This item is more than eight years old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references. ]
[ Media Contact: TPWD News, news@tpwd.texas.gov, 512-389-8030 ]
[ Additional Contacts: Rob McCorkle at 830.866.3533 or rob.mccorkle@tpwd.texas.gov; Chris Holmes at 979.229.2886 or chris.holmes@tpwd.texas.gov ]
July 10, 2009
Learn To Camp, Enjoy Outdoors at Texas State Parks This Fall
AUSTIN, Texas -- The popular Texas Outdoor Family Program has released its fall campout dates for 24 state parks throughout the state.
During the overnight Texas Outdoor Family program, participants spend much of the weekend learning not only how to pitch a tent, cook outdoors and learn about nature, but also how to use a global positioning system (GPS) to navigate trails and locate hidden caches.
The workshops cost $55 per family (up to six people), and will include individual camp sites for each family, restrooms, professional park ranger-led programs and instruction, overnight park police officer patrols, a curriculum developed specifically for use and enjoyment of a state park, and a state park Junior Ranger certification program. The entire approach is 'Leave No Trace' Certified so it's environmentally friendly.
Since its inception in July 2008, the program has delivered 40 workshops throughout the state from Palo Duro and Caprock Canyon state parks in the Panhandle all they down to the World Birding Center headquarters at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in the Valley.
"There's no experience or equipment necessary for these workshops," says Chris Holmes, the outdoor education coordinator for Texas State Parks. "We know there are lots of folks out there who simply want some hand holding to get comfortable and reacquainted with using the outdoors. Everyone is welcome, but sign up quick, because the workshops fill quickly."
Holmes says people who are apprehensive about taking their family into the outdoors for a camping trip will find this an excellent program. As one Texas Outdoor Family graduate said after attending the program at Brazos Bend State Park: "I personally had a fear of camping, but I truly had a great time! My kids also had a great time and didn't want to leave! It was a fantastic family experience and we will definitely camp again."
TOF participants bring their own food for the two-day workshops, and receive a checklist of what they need to bring along with a suggested shopping and packing list for meals and personal items.
Activities offered differ with the individual park's amenities and resources. Some events will include kayaking, fishing, nature crafts or other activities.
Check the TPWD Web site to see what activities occur at each event. Toyota has again come on board as a sponsor of Texas Outdoor Family, helping provide funding for equipment to make the weekend workshops possible. TPWD is seeking more sponsors who want to help introduce families to nature and the outdoors.
Visit the Texas Outdoor Family Web page for more information, including the complete schedule of weekend workshops. Check the web pages regularly, as new workshops continue to be added to the schedule.
Texas Outdoor Family is now on Facebook also where graduated families are encouraged to post their pictures and stories of their outdoor adventure.
Families can register by calling (512) 389-8903 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. and speaking to a Texas Outdoor Family representative or by sending an e-mail to tofsp@tpwd.texas.gov anytime. After registration, a confirmation packet with details will be sent.
Fall Season Texas Outdoor Family:
--12 -13 Sept, Palmetto SP, San Antonio Area
--12-13 Sept, Dinosaur Valley SP, Dallas Area
--19-20 Sept, Huntsville SP, Houston Area
--19-20 Sept, Palo Duro SP, Panhandle/Amarillo Area
Note Special Theme: Hike Texas' Grand Canyon.
--26-27 Sept, South Llano SP, San Antonio Area
Note Special Theme: Beginners guide to river kayaking.
--26-27 Sept, Cooper Lake SP (South Sulfur Unit), Dallas Area
--3-4 Oct, Ray Roberts SP (Johnston Unit), Dallas Area
--10-11 Oct, Birch Creek SP -- Lake Somerville, Austin Area
--10-11 Oct, Mineral Wells SP, Dallas Area
--17-18 Oct, Inks Lake SP, Austin Area
--17-18 Oct, Lake Brownwood SP, Dallas Area
--24-25 Oct, McKinney Falls SP, Austin Area
--24-25 Oct, Hueco Tanks SP, West Texas -- El Paso Area
--31 -- 1 Nov, Tyler SP, Dallas Area
Note Special Theme: Introduction to Dutch Oven Cooking
--31 -- 1 Nov, San Angelo, Dallas Area
--7-8 Nov, Cooper Breaks, Dallas Area
--7-8 Nov, Blanco SP, Austin Area
--14 -15 Nov, Eisenhower SP, Dallas Area
--21-22 Nov, Cedar Hill SP, Dallas Area
--21-22 Nov, Mustang Island SP, South Texas, Rockport Area
Note Special Theme: Beach Camp
--5-6 Dec, Estero Llano Grande, South Texas, Harlingen Area
Note Special Theme: Reconnecting to Nature
--5-6 Dec, Martin Dies SP, Houston Area
Note Special Theme: Canoeing Back-Bayous
--19 -20 Jan, Resaca de la Palma, South Texas, Harlingen Area
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On the Net:
http://tpwd.texas.gov/learning/bof/
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